The research suggests that the development of a legal drug that contains certain properties similar to those in marijuana might help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Though the exact cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown, chronic inflammation in the brain is believed to contribute to memory impairment.

Any new drug’s properties would resemble those of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant, but would not share its high-producing effects. THC joins nicotine, alcohol and caffeine as agents that, in moderation, have shown some protection against inflammation in the brain that might translate to better memory late in life.

One Response to “Marijuana is teh good, episode 3”

Well, whenever a substance exhibits psychoactive properties, there is always the *possibility* that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of a disease or disorder of the central nervous system. After all, many useful medicines (e.g., Byetta, a drug used to treat diabetes, which is related to gila monster venom) are derived from deadly toxins and/or poisons. Toxicity implies biological action! And once one is armed with a myriad of tools exhibiting biological action, one is better prepared to attack disease. LSD was developed originally with the optimistic hopes that it would prove to be a useful pharmaceutical. There exist many other examples. Unfortunately, the medical utility (or lack thereof) of psychoactive drugs is so often politicized that the underlying science and data (regardless of the viewpoint) get lost in the debate.

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